Understanding Disability Benefits When Illness Changes Your Ability to Work

When long-term illness develops or progresses, this can be a downheartening and stressful time. Especially so if your ability to work is affected, which puts a strain on finances. However, there are benefits available to eligible individuals. It’s just a matter of knowing what they are and how to access them.

If you’re asking yourself, “What is the difference between SSD and SSDI?”, you likely need to deepen your understanding of disability benefits. Read on to find out more about the financial aid that is accessible to those with long-term health conditions and disabilities.

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What are the Different Types of Disability Benefits?

Starting from the beginning, disability benefits are payments to support an individual if their disability affects their ability to work. Also, these payments do not need to be paid back like a loan. They are designed to bring financial relief to an out-of-work person living with a disability or severe long-term health condition.

The two main branches of disability benefits are employer-funded as part of your company insurance and government-based. There’s also private insurance for those who take out their own policies privately. Let’s take a look at the government or Social Security Administration-funded benefits available.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI disability benefits cover people who have worked solidly for at least 10 years and have paid social security taxes. It is calculated on a credit-based system, with each year of work earning the individual 4 credits. Applicants must be 65 years of age or younger to qualify for SSDI disability benefits. 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If you haven’t worked long enough or have limited resources, SSI is the other governmental disability benefit route you can go down. Individuals typically have to have assets worth less than $2,000 in value to be eligible. If you are married, your spouse’s finances will be considered as your own. This puts the figure up to $3,000 or less in combined assets to qualify.

Do I Qualify for Disability Benefits?

With any form of disability benefits available in the US, there is strict criteria that determines whether you will be able to receive them. Mostly, these are related to the type of health condition or disability the individual has, as well as their financial and work status. 

Health conditions that affect an individual’s ability to work

It’s not just having one of the following conditions that would make a person eligible for disability benefits. It’s the severity of the condition and how it affects their ability to work. 

For example, light arthritis that responds to basic treatment doesn’t necessarily prevent an individual from working. However, a severe case can inhibit movement to such an extent that they are unable to physically perform their job.

Similarly, chronic pain disorders and respiratory diseases are two other groups of conditions that could greatly affect a person’s ability to work. Individuals with long-term illnesses such as cancer or those undergoing rehabilitation after a stroke are also considered eligible for financial support.

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Mental health is another category of conditions that has proven to impede a person’s suitability for work. Disorders such as PTSD and depression, when severe, can endanger the employee and their teammates, especially in high-risk and responsibility roles.

How to Apply for Disability Benefits

Understandably, you will be asked to prove that you qualify for disability benefits. This is where the gathering of paperwork is crucial. Ask for medical records and letters from your healthcare practitioners to support your claim. Make sure that you keep copies of all the paperwork and communications you have sent.

If the benefit you are applying for is income-dependent or requires work credits, then you must be able to provide this information in detail. Similarly, ensure that you fill out the application forms accurately, providing as much information as possible. Finally, get someone to check it over before sending.

Getting an Expert Opinion

Applying for disability benefits is not an easy task and can be overwhelming for any individual. When you are living with a debilitating health condition or disability, this can feel ten times more difficult. Even friends and family support is sometimes not enough to deal with the paperwork and filling out of application forms.

Some people, therefore, opt to get outsider help from experts who know their way around the Social Security Administration. SSI/SSDI attorneys understand the process thoroughly, as they have helped many clients successfully gain the disability benefits they are entitled to. 

Not only can these professionals liaise with your healthcare providers to access the exact documents the Social Security Administration is looking for, but they can also alleviate a lot of the stress surrounding the application process. If you feel you deserve disability benefits but are put off by the paperwork, seeking out expert help may be the way forward.